Journal article
Central coherence in adolescents with bulimia nervosa spectrum eating disorders
The International journal of eating disorders, v 48(5), pp 487-493
01 Jul 2015
PMID: 25146149
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
BackgroundWeak central coherencea tendency to process details at the expense of the gestalthas been observed among adults with bulimia nervosa (BN) and is a potential candidate endophenotype for eating disorders (EDs). However, as BN behaviors typically onset during adolescence it is important to assess central coherence in this younger age group to determine whether the findings in adults are likely a result of BN or present earlier in the evolution of the disorder. This study examines whether the detail-oriented and fragmented cognitive inefficiency observed among adults with BN is observable among adolescents with shorter illness duration, relative to healthy controls.
MethodThe Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (RCFT) was administered to a total of 47 adolescents with DSM5 BN, 42 with purging disorder (PD), and 25 healthy controls (HC). Performance on this measure was compared across the three groups.
ResultsThose with BN and PD demonstrated significantly worse accuracy scores compared to controls in the copy and delayed recall condition with a moderate effect size. These findings were exacerbated when symptoms of BN increased.
DiscussionPoorer accuracy scores reflect a fragmented and piecemeal strategy that interferes with visual-spatial integration in BN spectrum disorders. This cognitive inefficiency likely contributes to broad difficulties in executive functioning in this population especially in the context of worsening bulimic symptoms. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that poor global integration may constitute a cognitive endophenotype for BN.
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Details
- Title
- Central coherence in adolescents with bulimia nervosa spectrum eating disorders
- Creators
- Alison M. Darcy - Stanford UniversityKathleen Kara Fitzpatrick - Stanford UniversityStephanie M. Manasse - Stanford UniversityNandini Datta - Stanford UniversityMegan Klabunde - Stanford UniversityDanielle Colborn - Stanford UniversityVandana Aspen - Stanford UniversityColleen Stiles-Shields - University of Chicago Medical CenterZandre Labuschagne - University of Chicago Medical CenterDaniel Le Grange - University of Chicago Medical CenterJames Lock - Stanford University
- Publication Details
- The International journal of eating disorders, v 48(5), pp 487-493
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- R01 MH079979 / NIMH NIH HHS; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) SPO#37129 / PHS HHS; United States Department of Health & Human Services; United States Public Health Service R01MH079979 / NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Center for Weight, Eating and Lifestyle Science (WELL) [Historical]
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000356684500006
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84931838183
- Other Identifier
- 991020100062404721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Nutrition & Dietetics
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Psychology, Clinical